Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Nitrogen fixation conversion of gaseous nitrogen to ammonia and then to organic
nitrogen, requires specialist microorganisms often in a symbiotic
relationship with plants (nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes)
Nitrogen reduction conversion of nitrate to ammonium under highly anaerobic conditions
Nutrients chemical elements or compounds required by plants for growth
Oligotrophic low fertility conditions, nutrient poor
Ombrogenous a peat-forming plant community that derives all its water, and
dissolved nutrients, from rainfall and other precipitation as opposed
to watercourses or below-ground drainage
Ombrotophic surface fed directly and exclusively by precipitation
Osiers willows used for basket making
Peatland all areas with peat, including sites with natural or semi-natural
vegetation and areas converted to agriculture or forestry or used for
peat extraction
Phytophagous species which feed on herbaceous and woody plants
Pingo type of wetland formed in the ice age when a slow melting block of
ice was surrounded by outwash materials. When the ice melted it
left a water filled depression in the ground
Poor fens fens fed by acidic water derived from base-poor rock such as
sandstones and granites, which tend to support a less diverse flora
and fauna than fens fed by more alkaline water
Residency time length of time water is in contact with soil or rock, which affects the
mineral content of the water feeding fens
Rich fens fens fed by mineral-enriched calcareous waters (pH 5 or higher
which therefore tend to support more diverse plant and animal
communities than those fed by base-poor water.
Soligenous wetness induced by lateral water movement i.e. sideways through
the soil or rock, as on seepage slopes
Stand a relatively uniform patch of vegetation of distinctive species
composition and appearance, which can vary in size from very small
(several square metres) to very large (i.e. many hectares)
Surface water water standing or flowing at the surface, which may contain
rainwater, river water and groundwater
Swamp wetlands with summer water table typically >25cm above ground
level
Topogenous wetness induced by topography and poor drainage where water
movement is predominantly vertical, typically found on open water
fringes, in basins or on flood plains.
Wale single or double wale refers to cutting every year or every 2 years
Water level the level of water above or below ground
Water table below ground, free surface water
Wetland area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or
seasonally
Withies long, bendy willow sticks
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